San Ardo Road Race

We were on the fence with this one, deciding at the last minute to drive the three hours to make the race. It was a typical Anne and Vanessa show- lots of chaos but somehow it all works out! Anne forgot her kit. Luckily I had two pairs of shorts (who brings two pairs?!) and she had a long sleeve jersey and vest so we could make something work. We had mechanic/manager/coach Fritz on board. Turns out this was very handy as Anne was all set to race in her vest, but evidently you are not allowed to race without sleeves. Did anyone beside Fritz know this?! So Anne made a last minute change to her long sleeve jersey (even though it was in the 80's at the start). There were nine tri-flow girls in the race, making up a third of the field. Somehow though it was me, Anne, awesome Denise from Norcal and a few others who were on the front the majority of the time. There was a bad crash caused by an inexperienced rider who unfortunately took out some great girls including Kelly from Dolce and Melissa from EMC. Very lame as they were riding well and definitely would have been in the mix for the finish. Anne was amazing the entire race (so strong!) and we had a great time despite obstacles like trucks, sketchy riding and charging pit bulls. We broke the field down to about 15 from 30 about halfway through the second lap. Then came the finish- an uphill with a left hand turn at the crest and a short straight runway to the end. Anne stomped it, rocketing up the climb in her big ring. I was trying to hold on but almost died on the hill (ouch!). At the turn, instead of giving up, I got mad. This helped to get my legs back under me for a sprint and I managed to pass several girls just in time to witness Anne duking it out for first with a tri-flow girl. It was so awesome to see her cross the line! I was squealing. It was totally Anne's race. She is riding super strong and it is a joy to see her in action. The tri-flow girl won by a hair but I think Anne is the true winner. Our placings: Anne 2nd, me 4th. Check out the video!

Mt Diablo TT & Lafayette Crit Weekend July 14th & 15th

Mt Diablo Hill Climb/Time Trial, Saturday, July 14th














Warming up.....






Lisa leaving the start ramp....
















Anne making her way up beautiful Mt Diablo...

The Crit
Lafayette
Sunday, July 15th:

Anne finished 8th in a full 3/4 field -

Pacific State Bank Grand Prix & Burlingame Crit Weekend

PACIFIC STATE GRAND

PRIX:
After the debacle at Mt Hamilton where I crashed out of the race before even reaching the second mile (argh), I took several weeks off to recover. Decided to get back into the game with a couple of criteriums this weekend starting off with the Pacific State Bank Grand Prix in Stockton. While warming up it was a bit disconcerting to see two crashes each take place at the same corner in a men's field, so I was glad that our group took the first lap at a moderate pace to scope out the course. Our group was pretty small (a total of 10 racers) so it felt like a manageable field-a good first race to get back "into the mix." A note for those thinking about doing this race in the future: There are quite a few corners in this race, which I found challenging. Some of the corners are paved unevenly, like the one where the two racers went down. Relatively speaking the straightaways on this course seem on the shorter side, so cornering skills and getting well positioned going into corners are key to win primes or finish well in this race. I was glad that we were in a small field. The race really got started when the strong Webcor racer (who I believe had already taken at least one prime) went for a breakaway, bringing along with her another racer. Although only two of them broke away, they did achieve a nice gap and one that the rest of the field was concerned with.

We took a couple of turns chasing down the break successfully, which I must say was really a good workout for me not having ridden at race pace for several weeks! Unfortunately, the race was cut WAY too short (we were supposed to stop at 40 minutes or thereabouts) and the final lap was upon us much sooner than most of us had expected. Although a fun race and great workout, disappointingly, our race ended at about 31 minutes. I ended up with a 6th place finish and $10 which paid for lunch at a local burrito shop.
BURLINGAME CRITERIUM:
Burlingame was an exciting fun course! Our race started early (7:50a) which meant one early wakeup (more coffee please!) . Cat4 was a full field (34+ racers starting) and the entire race was fast from the start. All of the corners were pretty nice except for one on the western side of the course which had some dips, and where the pavement was uneven and went from pavement to brick back to pavement again. A little unnerving at first, but I found that after the first couple of laps I felt good riding on the inside of all of the corners. The stretch before the start/finish line is nice and super fast. Getting positioned well before that final corner is key going for a prime or the finish. The pace was strong for most of the race and the race went by quickly. From my vantage point there were no crashes in the field, however, one woman dropped her chain going for a sprint on a prime (ouch!) but she manuvered herself out of the way really well so the field was not impacted. There was a nice-sized crowd and it was exiciting coming in for the last lap. This race definitely has an "event" type feel to it and its easy to see why it's so popular.

Berkeley Hills Road Race Report

What a relief when last Saturday rolled around! I had been thinking all week of the BHRR, all the in's and out's, dips and bumps of the Bears loop. I train on this loop. Anne and Vanessa won the Pinole TTT for WCat4 on this course. I could visualize exactly when the burn was going to set in (well, you never really can visualize that exactly). And now it was finally going to get underway. I was stoked to see Vanessa and Anne at registration. At this point of the season, we've done enough races to know that the next two hours were going to be tough. Unfortunately, we were missing our comrades Jess and Amy, but knew that they were with us in spirit - or in the case of Jess, cheering us on at the Bears. The race got underway at a decent pace but things started to change right after the first turn on to Castro Ranch. That first hill on Castro Ranch may be short - but there is something steep about it. After that little hill, the pace picked up. We rode in bursts to Mama Bear. The decisive break was made by a lead group at the mid-way point of Mama Bear. Vanessa and I had the lead group in site and raced to get back on. We were joined by Kim from EMC and a couple of gals from NorCal and Pegasus. We fought hard to catch up. I heard friends on the sidelines saying in encouragement "Looking good!" I thought - wait a minute, I have chocolate Gu and snot all over my face, how can I look good? But anyways, I digress.
Coming down Pumphouse for the first time we were fighting hard to catch back on. At probably THE most technically worst spot possible on this course - at the twisty river bed crossing just before coming back up the little hill to make a right on San Pablo for our second lap - we were passed by a men's group, forced to slow down, and then....Kim's chain dropped. What a bummer!! Amidst all the riders and the chaos, Vanessa and I were able to get with the NorCal woman and the rider from Pegasus. Approaching the Bears the final round, I was feeling the burn in my legs bad.

And now I have to say its amazing how collected and poised Vanessa is in moments like these when you need strong words of encouragement the most. Just when I didn't think I had it in me to kick it in more, Vanessa's words of support made me want to ride faster. Thanks Vanessa. By the time we got to Papa Bear, I think both of us were seriously stoked to be so close to the finish line - to see it in sight. We crossed the line and Anne was just behind us!

Lessons Learned

Madera Stage Race - More photos!

I got my first taste of being in a lead breakaway group this weekend – what fun! If not for the flat I got at mile 37 (of 51), on the final lap, I’m sure I would have been gunning for the finish with the other five riders in the group. Ah well – it’s enough to know that I did what I wanted to do at this stage race: stay upright in the crit (came in 7^th), finish with the fastest speed at the end of the time trial (11^th place?), and work to stay in the lead pack no matter what in the road race (came in 8^th – the flat cost me two spots). Went into the RR in 10^th place in GC and finished with 8^th in the end.

Being the first race I’ve been at without teammates, I took Pat and Kelly’s advice and focused on my own race skills: being safe, moving up to a better position at the optimum time, how to pace in a time trial (this needs work and aerobars!), and how to just stay tucked in. All of their advice worked to perfection…almost.

Criterium: (1.1 miles, good surface, flat, four turns and one railroad crossing) In a mixed field of Cat 4’s and 35+, our field was about 35 women strong—and a bit scary, since my last crit was the early bird in February. Lots of Left Coasters and Velo Bella’s. It was a lonely morning for the sole Touchstoner and thus really difficult to hold on to a good position in any of the early laps. Any time I managed to get near the front (but still tucked in) all of the sudden the field would accordion and it was chaos. Within seconds I was in the back. Frustrating. Fortunately, on the final lap and two turns from the final straight away, I fought to get up to the front third. Going into the final turn, I pushed a little harder expecting the sprinters to take off and kept a line that allowed me to pedal through. While I couldn’t find a good wheel to grab (people were either too fast or too slow), I did manage to pass a good number of people. Phew! Safe and through the finish and on to the next stage that afternoon…

Time Trial: (10.3 miles, ok roads, three turns, headwind, mostly flat) The sun was unbearable. The small Touchstone contingency (Ken, Pat, Kelly, Steve, and my dad) found ourselves setting up shop in the almond orchards of northeast Madera. “Hot” couldn’t describe the temps in the sun. Any thoughts of not carrying water on the 10.3-mile stage for “aero” purposes quickly evaporated – literally. Seeing everyone in their TT helmets, aerobars and disc wheels (some even with TT-specific bikes), I was a little envious. At 2:35, I took off with a heart rate already above 170…way too high. The racer 30 seconds ahead of me started to get bigger and bigger and I thought, “How cool would it be to catch someone?!” Well, I eventually caught him, someone who was just out on a ride. Oh well. A few seconds later, I myself got caught by someone with aerobars, Starla from Dolce Vita (who eventually took second or first overall). It was a painful 10 miles. The heat emanated from the pavement and I was almost out of water. My HR was way above LT and I still had 5 miles to go. (This sucks.) I came into the final turn and knew I had just one mile left. I took the last of the Enervit and started to increase speed. At the 1K marker, I saw the white tent--the finish, Shangri-La, an oasis that seemed forever out of reach. (Man, I feel like shit.) By the time I crossed the finish, I was barely breathing and yet couldn’t stop pedaling in fear of instant cramping. Shade, all I wanted was shade.

Road Race: (17 mile loop, mostly flat, headwind area, bad road section, steep section of rollers to finish – a course that suited me well!) I attribute my fast recovery and strength I felt in this 3^rd stage to the Chili’s steak and potatoes breakfast I had a 6:45am (leftovers) and the PBJ sandy I had at 9:30, two hours before my race started. Come 11:30, I was feeling good and the weather was ever-so-slightly cooler. With a two-mile promenade to the course, our field of 15 or so, “agreed” to stay together for at least the first two laps. Once the race started, one rider was immediately off the back with a flat tire. About 12 miles into it, on the worst piece of road you could imagine, we lost another rider whose seat popped off (!) which we all ran over but escaped unscathed. (My dad said he saw her finish the lap out of the saddle. Impressive since that meant she had to ride 5 miles or so standing.) Once we hit the rollers at the end of the lap, I sensed our “agreement” was about to become null and void -- not intentionally but just out of pure attrition that happens when you hit the climbs. Immediately, my HR jumped and Pat’s voice came down like the voice of god, “Just hammer to stay with the lead group through the rollers – it’s short and you’ll be glad you did.” I was. Once I crested the first roller with the pack, I was able to draft enough to get through the next few with very little effort. By the time we reached the last, our group was down to six and stayed that way for the next full lap and for a bit into the third – until visions of actually getting some point for this race came to an end with a damn flat. I pulled off and watched the group of 5 ride off. I had the new tube in-in record time (for me)-only to find that it was a short valve. I couldn’t get air in. Now what?! Cry? I looked down the road and saw a cyclist – no spare. The five cars that passed were all locals – no spare. Another cyclist! And, he was unclipping! A Sierra Nevada rider from Sac who got dropped from this Cat 3 field saved my ass. While I knew I had already lost my 6^th place by maybe two riders, I just had to finish. The Sierra Nevada rider (Andrew?) and I rode side by side pretty much to the end. He was good company and a nice way to get my mind off the oppressive heat and the loss of the race.

I spun my way up the rollers and to the finish line, coming in 8^th for the stage and 8^th overall. I’m pretty happy with that. Definitely looking forward to this race again next year.

Ken did great with an impressive 3^rd place in GC (and $5!). My dad did well too, taking 26^th in a tough field (Masters 45+). Not sure how Kelly and Pat finished but I'm sure they did well.

"Windy" Wente Vineyards RR & Crit

Wente really reminded me of how much FUN this bike racing thing is. Both courses were a blast (literally and figuratively!) to ride, both courses doled out challenges and lessons, and both courses provided us all the opportunity to ride like a team!

The RR: Anne and I tried a new technique for this race, it's called "warming up." We actually worked up a sweat and did some crazy sets of ME's or LT's or something... I think this helped but in the end, I just didn't have the juice (or rather forgot to drink enough of it during the race and ended up cramping and hitting a wall I couldn't overcome). Anne definitely gets the bad-ass, tough-as-nails trophy for getting back on the bike after being knocked down and sprinting for the finish despite serious injuries. Awesome! Amy was a freaken bullet down those technical descents- I could barely hold her wheel even though I outweigh her by at least two 8 year old boys... And Lisa climbed like she was riding the flats- smooth and fast! Despite missing the top 10, I think we all rode really well in a really hard race; and for me it was great just not riding alone like in Ward's and Snelling (ugh). Having a teammate's wheel to sit on, forming a great little pace line to divide and conquer that wind, friends to pass the grueling time with- that was the best! But I am seriously looking into a way to put a motor on my bike...

The Crit: Waking up the day after the RR was hard. I was sore. I was tired. And it wasn't raining (damnit!). This meant I had better get my butt up and race the crit. I got up. I made scones. I ate them. In bed. With a latte. Bad idea. Scones are crumbly..
It was a lonely drive to Livermore and I was missing Anne, hoping she was OK. It was windy and cool at registration and I was definitely not feeling it, but then I saw Lisa walking up in her jazzy Touchstone puffy jacket smiling and ready to race! This helped me kick it in gear. Teammates are the best! We watched the women 1/2/3 go round and round and saw them fighting one seriously evil head wind (legs groan here). Then we set up our trainers and started the warm up (legs really start groaning here). But we both saw our heart rates come up pretty quick (good news!). After debating at length clothing options, food choices, warm up times, etc. we had to bolt to the bathrooms and then to the course (where does the time go??) to make our race. Once we were in it I felt better but not great. There was the usual sketchy racers, the usual bullys, the scary 12 yr. old, but the course was by far the funnest I have been on! Lots of curvy turns, smooth pavement, and not really any braking on the corners! I was really wishing I had fresh legs because it was a perfect course for me and I was dying to tear it up but knew I didn't have the stamina to stay away... On the backside there were quite a few attacks, especially by the velo bellas- they had at least 4 girls including Marian Hunting (great rider who got 3rd in the RR). I stuck to their wheels like glue though, 'cause I was determined to be in any break that tried to get away or die trying. At one point I was pushed off a wheel and shut out. I couldn't find any safety from the wind so I went to the front, right before the turn into a major headwind- the worst place to be. I was up there all alone in a roaring head wind, burning through the last of my matches, and then up pops Lisa! Right in front of me and I take her wheel. It was just what I needed to get my legs back. She pulled me through the wind tunnel and saved me from certain defeat! We set a nice pace and let the pack come back up around us on the next corner but stayed with the front girls. From there things got a bit fuzzy and I didn't see Lisa so I thought she may have done herself in for me, but coming around the corner and into the last lap there she was on my left! I was soo stoked to see her. And, she looked great! Relaxed, smooth, and in it! Whoohoo! I was starting to think it was gonna be a good day! Coming in to the sprint finish I was in a pretty good position, and was looking for wheels to jump on and stay protected. I had a line and was going for it and out of nowhere some chick hits my left arm and hand several times, pushing me to the right! WTF?! That was not bumping, that was pushing! Hitting! It threw me off and rattled me but I tried to dig in and go for the finish. Sixth! And Lisa came in right behind me! Top ten! How cool is that?! It was a really fun day and a great race. No crashes and great results for two very tired Touchies! All I have left to say is stay tuned for the next crit- Lisa is racing super solid and smart and can take it. I'll be there to support!

Sea Otter Baby!

Lots to celebrate on the racing front...Touchstone was well represented in top placings at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey:

Women's Cat 4 Road Race: Jamima Iley 2nd, Anne Taupier 27th
Women's Cat 4 Circuit: Jamima Iley 2nd, Lisa Stefke 19th, Anne Taupier 25th, Jess de Jesus 26th
Men's Cat 4 Master's Road Race: Scott Herring 5th
Men's Cat 5 Circuit: Ken Dick 11th
Men's Cat 5 Master's 40+ Circuit: Andrew Tilin, 4th
Women's Elite Pro Road Race: Maria Monica 2nd, Kelly McDonald 4th
Women's Cat 3 Road Race: Janeen Thorpe 2nd

Stay tuned for a full race report from Jamima Iley who has upgraded to Cat 3 after her stellar performance at Sea Otter!

Wards Ferry Road Race

Lots of smiles from the Men's Cat 4/5 Team!















Women's Cat 4 Team undercover... We survived!

McLane Pacific

McLane was going to be my first race riding without my trusty teammates. I made a point to arrive the day before the race so that I could either drive or ride the course, time permitting. That was a good move, because finding my way just to the start of the race was not as straightforward as it appeared and it was definitely good to scope it out. I recognized several of these roads as the ones that I had raced on just the week before at Snelling. And Snelling was a tough race for me. If anything, this hardened my resolve to stick to my two goals for McLane Pacific - don't get dropped and stay safe. I managed to drive the course loop (there would be two 23.4 mile loops during the race) with just enough daylight remaining to get a sense of the route and its challenges. From the vantage point of my car, the two key critical spots looked like the climb starting at about the 17 mile mark, and then the twisty roads and cornering in the 1-2 miles heading to the finish of the loop.

The morning of the race, conditions were near perfect. Almost no wind and probably the first day in a long while that I did not need my knee warmers. As I was getting ready to head out and warm up, I met Melissa from EMC who kindly (and very diplomatically) suggested I may need a bit of help readjusting my numbers. Thanks Melissa for preventing me from taking off with parachutes on each side of my jersey!

The race started out at a good pace at least 15 minutes late. After the debacle at Snelling the week before, where my legs had the strength of overcooked spaghetti after mile 7, I had a much better sense of what to expect.

I had heard that there were 70+ riders in our group. I'm still not sure if that is the case (as the official results are STILL pending and it certainly did not look like 70 or so riders to me), but I can tell you that riding in that particular pack was eery; I did not want to be anywhere in the middle of it - if that meant riding off to the side or off to the back - so be it. And thats what I tried to do for most of the race.

The first set of corners we approached did have the huge accordian effect with the corresponding huge expenditures of energy after each to keep up and not lose the wheel in front of me. I could tell that this would get old very quickly. But as each new corner came up, it became easier to anticipate the bursts and I actually caught the rhythm to it. Also, on the first straightaways, around the 10 mile mark, there were a few attempted breakaways - each one caught by the pack. Then the hill that I had anticipated would be a crux; at the top of it, hey wait - I still felt good. Now for those upcoming corners which I knew would test my beginning-level technical racing skills. Everyone around me rode into those corners well and held their lines. What a relief at the end of lap 1 - still with the pack, riding safe and feeling strong! OK, now for lap 2..

Lap 2 started out with a rider's tire blowing out loudly - definitely jarring some nerves. No one went down, and all was safe. During this lap, there were several more breakaway attempts. One rider alone, another breakaway in a small group - each caught by the pack. As we headed up the climb on the second lap, the pace was picking up and at the top of that climb there was a sucessful breakaway of what looked like about 10 riders - they were off charging it. Then another breakaway group that I managed stick on to, of about another group of 10 or so riders. We stuck together through the the upcoming twisty roads. As we headed to the last mile of the race, the pace was picking up and we were getting caught by the other riders behind us. As we head into the finish, I was so stoked to be feeling this good and finishing with the pack that I had not set myself up well for a nice push at the end. I was blocked in.

Just yards from the finish line, I heard a terrible noise behind me - not the standard "bike hits ground" sound that I heard in an Early Bird, but something different. Holding my line, I quickly crossed the finish line with my other goal attained - staying upright. Unfortunately, not too far behind me, a crash had taken place impacting several riders. As it turns out, the crash so impacted the field, that the results from our race have not been officially published yet! Hope that those riders are ok -

All in all, it was a good race and a great day of riding. Congrats to Jill and John for strong finishes in their categories!

Menlo Park Grand Prix

The Set Up...

The sun was out, the weather was warm, and the race didn’t start until a respectable 10:00 a.m. So, I picked Anne up around 8:15 a.m. because I am trying to be a “prepared” and “responsible” racer. Anne is sick. Anne has been puking. Anne is dehydrated. Anne should stay home in bed. But Anne is rallying for me. She is racing to support me! Anne is awesome! It makes me feel really great. It reminds me I damn well better do good!

We arrive "on time" and in one piece despite my erratic driving. It’s bright out. There are lots of people there spinning away on their trainers. There are lots of teams and tents and official team cars. We make finding bathrooms our number one priority (it’s a ritual now). The registration is smooth, they have things like jolly ranchers and tootsie rolls and red vines for the taking! This is no Velo Promo race. They have a podium there for the winners! I’ll admit it, I eyed it… I thought about how I wanted to be on it…

I felt nervous but not too much. We “warmed up” by riding around the parking lot. This makes me calmer. I am starting to believe more in this arriving early and “preparing” thing…

The Course...

Nothing like tight, ninety degree turns, a narrow road, big gutters, huge grates on each corner, and exposed roots pushing through broken pavement. Some girls get off the line; they decide not to race because the course is scary. Anne and I sit in. I pretend to be tough but my heart is racing and I have to pee. Anne has to pee. Anne is looking pale and is trying to keep from puking or passing out. I feel bad that she is racing for me but I am also really happy to have her there. The support feels amazing.

The Race...

According to Greg LeMond, "It never gets easier, you just go faster." So that’s what Anne and I did. We went faster this crit. Not because we wanted to, not because it felt good, but because the other girls were going faster! These girls were strong! They had team members! They wore skin suits! They used TACTICS! But on every single corner they slowed. It was frustrating. It was scary. There was the usual weird jostling around. There were girls who would let gaps open up. It was hard to find a comfy space or a wheel to stick to. I started talking and then kept talking- “Hold your line!” “Pedal through god damn it!” I find that talking helps with the nerves. I tell a Velo Bella girl that I like her pretty pink Look. She looks at me like I have two heads. I ride Anne’s wheel. We go to the front. We let the pack come up. We pretty much just ebb and flow with the group in this manner for awhile. Then a break happens. At first no one responds. Then I realize they could stay away. Anne and I discuss this break. We try to rally the group to chase it down. I go to the front and pull. Anne comes up and pulls. Anne is hauling ass! I am on her wheel and we make headway. Did I mention how incredible Anne is?? No one else comes to the front. I start yelling again. “Let’s go girls!” I am cracking myself up, I am all fired up. I can’t figure out why no one wants to catch the break. Why is everyone ignoring me?? Then I realize why- the break has a Dolce Vita girl and a Velo Bella girl. Their teammates are with me, slowing down the pace at the front of the pack. Team tactics! How beautiful! I pick up the pace and work with girls who don’t have team members up the road. Anne is there. Every time I get a little tired I get on her wheel and she guides me through. I love Anne! We catch the break. And then, just like that, after what seems like an eternity of scary corners, it is the last lap. The pressure is on. There is a surge. There is lots of jostling. There is a lot of yelling. I am hesitant to work my way up because these girls are scary on the corners. Right before the last turn I am about 10 back and I hear tons of “click click click!” The girls are getting into their biggest gears. I do the same thing on the last corner. Rounding the turn, the group breaks wide open. A girl in front of me all of a sudden cranks her wheel left and endos. I think “Wow! She is on her head!” I weave around her and head for the line. And just like that, our race is over. We both feel like puking. But we are alive. We are going to live for another day of racing…

The Podium...

...is not as cool as I thought. I am fifth. It is embarrassing standing up there. I don't like people looking at me. I have tootsie roll stuck in my teeth and need to pee...

Snelling

Anne's Race Report - I don't like the cold. When Amy, Vanessa and I pulled up to the parking lot the grass was white with frost. I didn't want to get out of the car. The car had individual seat warmers. I like that. We reluctantly padded out across the crunchy, frozen grass to registration and then we stood in line to pee. We located Jess and Lisa already warming up and appearing unphased by the arctic conditions. After much debate about appropriate wardrobing issues we were suited up and ready to warm up, but first, we waited in line to pee. We mounted our trusty steeds and headed right out of the parking lot in the direction that other riders were heading, riders who looked like they knew what the hell they were doing. We followed, for about 100 yards, looked at each other and began to renegotiate wardrobe. We were going to need more layers. We returned to the parking lot and got in line to pee. We met our new teammate Jamima, she was in line to pee. Is it hydration or nerves? Gawd, I love the smell of port-o-potties in the morning.

It was exciting to line up at the start with five teammates, I felt proud looking over at a sea of Touchstone blue. The race got under way after the 3-mile leadout and Jamima powering to the front of the pack, where she would remain for the majority of the race. The road felt crowded and difficult to move through and there were moments when I considered quitting cycling and joining roller derby, these girls were intense. Vanessa and I were trying to stay together and move through the middle but we were struggling to gain any headway in the field when Amy pulled up on the outside and said to me "hop on my wheel." Did I mention that I love her. It was very early in the day and we were trying to get a sense of the rhythm of the race, the sudden surges followed by frightening slowdowns when there was an unexpected schism of the field. It reminded me of the scene in Titanic when the boat suddenly splits in two and you think "there's no way that's how that would happen, I mean come on, James Cameron bugs me" but there it was right in front of us, a giant fissure fracturing the field in two with four of caught on the wrong side of it and at a point when I was still half expecting riders to be fixing their hair. It just caught us off-guard, in the middle of reaching for gu, and assessing computer glitches and the front 30 were pulling away fast. I made a decision to take off after it and hope that Vanessa, Amy and Lisa would respond and come with me. It was astonishing how quickly the pack gained ground and it took me a fully anerobic five minutes to finally catch up to the tail of the pack. I no longer felt cold. Looking around I realized that Amy, Lisa and Vanessa had not made the split. Shit. I could see Jess up towards the front and Jamima setting the pace and I told myself to stay focused and hold onto the pack. I started noticing the other teams and thought, gratefully, I'm glad we're not sponsored by Tri-Flow, I mean really, why is that in such large font across their jersey? Tri-Flow? It makes me need to pee.

The group seemed to settle down a bit after the first lap and I actually started to enjoy the race. I mean this course had it all. An assaulting head-wind on the front side, a few tight sand-covered corners, an unpredictable group of unfamiliar faces and of course that stretch of permanently dibilitating rough pavement before the final turn . What more could a girl ask for? Just when I thought things were going to get really interesting, the group was neutralized for a significant portion of the third lap to allow a large group of male racers to pass. I was genuinely impressed by the graciousness of the women during this portion of the race, cheering on the few guys struggling to keep pace with their own group and reminding each other to be careful on the narrow road while this was happening. Okay, I won't join roller-derby. The last stretch of rough road saw a lot of jockeying for position. I was trying to move to the inside of the turn because Lisa had warned me about getting blocked out if I was on the outside. I made the turn and started to move up the inside lane but was pushed off the road into the dirt momentarily by another rider. I managed to stay upright and get back on the road and could see Jamima in the middle of the developing sprint. I tried to push up the hill and felt like I was gaining ground before just running out of race. I wasn't sure how many riders crossed the line in front of me but it was an exhilarating finish and I was happy to congratulate those powerful women in front of me. The MetroMint girls were celebrating and were very gracious finishers. Jess pulled up next to me and we both agreed we were relieved to have a safe finish under our belts. We rolled back toward the finish line just in time to see Vanessa cross having worked her heart out with her solo attempt to catch the pack, followed by Lisa and then Amy smiling her way through her own hard-fought solo effort. I wanted to shout "we're the king of the world" even though James Cameron still bugs me.

Finally, it was great fun to see the Women's Pro 1/2's and men's master teams head out on their race and try to offer some inexperienced support to them in the feed zone. And, the whole trip to Snelling was worth it knowing that Jill won her race, getting to see Pat in action and of course Scott's phenomenal win and $10 purse. Congratulations, Touchstone!

Jess's Race Report - It was brutally cold and I was tempted to start the race with my big puffy down jacket. Fortunately, the cold air lost some of its edge by the time the gun went off at 8:30 -- late as usual. This was by far the biggest race with the W's Cat 4 field split into two groups. Fortunately, the 3-mile neutral start gave us a moment to calm any nerves. Unlike last week, we had six teammates present and were one of the largest teams, if not the largest. Exciting, especially knowing we had an ex-pro Ironman athlete on our side -- welcome Jamima!!

Despite being the Paris Roubaix of California, the scenery was quite beautiful with rolling hills, vineyards, and blossoming orchards. On the flipside, there were brutal cross and headwinds, dirty corners and sections littered with tacks thrown down by locals. (Is that supposed to be funny?) About halfway through the first lap, the field split and I barely made the break to stick with the lead group. A few seconds later, I was relieved to see Anne come up next to me too; Jamima was somewhere up in the front pulling strong. I didn't realize Anne and I were it until I looked back a few minutes later to see an empty road behind. Shit. What's Plan B? So off we went with the pack of 20 or so round and round. Things stayed pretty calm and chill for most of the time. On the last lap and nearing the last two bends, I found it pretty hard to make my way to the front of the pack--the road sucked and I just haven't tapped into that aggro gene that racing seems to require at these critical moments. Fortunately, because I was sitting in the back for a lot of that last lap, I had a little bit left for the final sprint up that last riser. While I couldn't get into position to lead Anne out (I was not only BEHIND her, but also on the OTHER SIDE of the pack), she managed to dig deep despite getting pushed into the dirt for a few seconds and blow by half the field.

Great race -- lots learned. Also, great to be out there supporting the men (Ken, Dave, Scott, Andrew, John, Sean, Mark) and elite ladies (Pat, Jill, Holly, and Maria).

Vanessa's Two Cents - 1) This is the best report EVER! 2) Heated seats rule 3) James Cameron does bug! 4) It was a brutal day out there at Smelling (typo intended)!

Those things said, I am totally proud of all of us, especially Anne, Jess and Jamima for sticking in there and pulling out great results. I really think that we are learning and evolving and hopefully that will mean some great races down the road. Being out alone on that road, without another racer in sight, reminded me that this sport is about teams. It was so upsetting to fall off and not be able to get back up there to protect Anne in the roller-derby pack. I was there to do a job- get Anne to the end for a win! And I thought about how good it would have felt to have been able to do that job, to see her cross that line in front of me in blazing glory! I thought about how a team makes you stronger physically and emotionally. And I thought about how much fun it is to be part of a team. I stuck in this race, chasing the pack just always out of reach (OK, waaayyy out of reach) because at the end, I wanted to be able to tell Anne "I tried to get back up there to help you!" I didn't stop trying even though the race was over for me (and believe me there were moments I wanted to stop, like say, when I realized my heart rate had been above 185 for 30 minutes..); I didn't give up because I knew somewhere up the road maybe just maybe I could still be of use to Anne or Jess or Jamima. I didn't give up because I knew that somewhere close behind me Amy and Lisa were still fighting the wind like me, alone, in PAIN... I didn't give up because I knew that after the race, I'd be able to share my experience and learn about your experiences. All of us, together... And I didn't give up because I knew Amy had chocolate chip cookies waiting in the car- a slow death in the ditch on the side of road in Snelling or slow recovery in back seat with heat and cookies, chatting with the team. You do the math...

Pine Flat -- Here we go...

Amy's Race Report: So, Pine Flat turned out to be quite a good first road race. We ate, we drank, we didn't crash - those were my three main objectives, at least. Maybe it was the road food, all the driving, or sleeping in a strange bed... but it's hard to not feel bad when you wake up at 5:30 am. I know these are just normal racing things, but, it'll take some getting used to. Once I got on my bike and rode around the parking lot, I felt fine, but each time I stopped, the nerves built up and I wanted to puke and pee at the same time. Despite getting anaerobic on the first steep (and neutral!) hill out of the parking lot, things were off to a good start once we started moving.

The first 45 miles the whole pack rode together. In the beginning, we were checking out the pack, chatting it up, and sticking towards the back in the first set of rollers. Everything was pretty smooth and agreeable and not too stressful. My favorite line was when one girl said, you can go around me, I need to fix my hair. I was shocked but actually relieved that it was so chill. There were a few girls riding no hands and eating GU and I have to admit, I was a little jealous... they had skills. There were moments when people surged and the tempo was unpredictable... it was a little "ugh... ouch... ahh" followed by a "I can't believe I need to use my brakes." I guess that's what you get when you sit in on the back. It's fun to pile more experience in to my little brain. The great thing about being a novice is that you learn so much each time and no matter how many times people tell you things, you don't really get it until you're in it. Just after the turn around cone, the pace picked up quickly and I was caught off guard. I figured it was a little early for a break away, but it's a little disconcerting to fall off so fast. Jess, kicked it into gear and I hung on her wheel to get back on. Maybe I'm a bit dramatic, but it felt like she saved me from falling off the side of a cliff. Then things got organized in the flats and we had a good double pace line where everyone cycled through.

Many miles later we hit the hills... there were some bumps just before the big hill and I was concentrating on hanging on to wheels... I think there was a line of about 6 or so people in front of me. When we hit the big hill, I looked back and I only saw one person behind me. The group split at some point and continued to fall apart. On the super steep part 2 girls took off. I tried to catch them, but I was at my max for a while and sadly dropped off. The crazy thing was that there were a huge number of people on the hill. I had a hard time picking out my group because it looked like a party on the hill with people climbing everywhere. There were 2 other girls behind me that I decided to buddy up with for the descent. One was a mountain biker, so I got behind her and we dropped the third one. We rode the flat together (well, to be honest, she pulled me practically the whole way.) I pulled for a minute and she said, let me get in front, we've got company behind us. The front two were way out of sight, but we tried to keep away from the other girl who ended up catching us in the flats. The 3 of us hit the last hill all together, and the girl I worked with got 3rd, I got 4th and the other one got 5th. We were all pretty close, and my legs were shaking as I crossed the finish line. Lisa finished shortly after and Jess not long after that. Everyone looked great - super strong up that last hill! It was a fun and beautiful course and luckily, no rain. It was great to see the elite women kick ass and then TS mens 5 do so well, too. We look forward to next week where we'll have the whole team back together again.

Jess's Report from the back: I'm so proud of Amy! And, the whole team too. Given this was our first road race, I thought we did really well as a team. A BIG thanks goes out to Mo for giving us a suggested play by play we used that day. Just as she urged, we stayed together through the rollers and flats, keeping Amy and Lisa sheltered from the front and doing what it took to keep us in the pack. At one point, I was able to glance down at the computer -- 41 miles down and only 2:10 in the saddle -- it's amazing what working together can do, which is what the whole field did for the most part. A few miles later, I felt the lactic acid building in the legs for the first time. Dread. The climbing was still up ahead and I was hanging on to the back, barely, shoving food in as fast as I could. Around mile 47 or so, before the final right hand turn up Watts Rd., the field started to break apart with gaps all over the place. Fortunately, Amy was well in position up front to take it from there. Although gapped, I could see the lead group of about 5 girls, then Lisa between them and me. I contemplated turning it up to get to Lisa but I was done. So done. A Velo Bella came up behind me and we worked together for a little while until one of the steep sections came and I couldn't hold on any longer. By the time I hit the steepest section of the climb, I caught my last glimpse of Lisa and the Velo Bella. From that point on, my race became a training ride to the finish. Relief. No more pressure. I was alone for a while, including through that fast and narrow descent. Fun! I occasionally passed some straggling riders along the way, including a guy who was plagued with cramps just 2 miles from the finish. (In any other circumstance, I would have stopped and given him a Gu...but not that day! Not even a nod of the head or word of encouragement. All I thought was 'Good luck buddy!') With only 1km to go, I was thrilled to know I had just one more steep, outta the saddle hairpin turn. I passed a guy just before the finish that grumbled, "I don't know why I do this...." At that point, I looked up and saw the whole team up on the bluff above the finish line cheering me on--Lisa, Amy, Pat, and Scott--and our trusty photographer Elmar--and thought that's why!

Big congrats to the W's Pro/1/2: Maria Monica (1st) and Kelly (3rd). Pat--sorry about your mechanical difficulties but you looked awesome pulling the field along on the O/B section of the course! Also, Ken had a great finish, taking 8th in Men's Cat5. Chris A came in some place after. Scott Rossi placed in the top 20 in Men's Masters Cat4/5. Results should be up soon.

Lisa's Race Report: Much of what Amy and Jess wrote applies to my race report as well. The race was pretty reasonably paced for the first 43 or so miles. Jess pulled out a great move at about the 17 mile (?) mark, picking up the pace enough to concern some of the other riders - in turn initiating those ladies to work harder, pull the pack and work for us. The whole group worked well through the rollers and the flats - it was actually quite fun to work in the rotating paceline that we had going for what had to be at least 20 miles. Its amazing the ground you can cover at such a nice clip working together. That rotating paceline was one of the highlights of the race for me; I really enjoyed working together with the entire group. The race though changed about two miles from the start of the climb. Amy and I asked each other how we were feeling - we both said we felt good. But as we started up the climb...well, maybe I wasn't feeling so good! As soon as I saw it happening it was over: first, I lost the wheel in front of me, and then, the break with the pack. But our goal was achieved - Amy was in the break - woohoo! - and our plan had worked. Amy was looking strong. I figured I was going to do the climb at my pace within my level of capability, thinking that the pace of the pack would start to wear some racers down. No such luck. I was dropped like a hot potato. And I too passed the gentleman with the leg cramps - he was clearly disappointed. At the last climb, after riding as hard as I could through the final seven miles, I heard everyone cheering me on. I was proud to cross the line; yes a bit disappointed that I had not been able to hang with the pack, but pleased none the less that I finished my first road race. My sense of what to expect, what is possible and what one can achieve was definitely brought to a new level. A huge congrats to Amy who rode a GREAT race, and Jess who pulled out the tactics. It was great fun riding with you both.

Thanks also to Mo, Pat and the Elite ladies for all of your feedback and beta on the race.